CULTIVATION 
7 
the support. Filmy ferns are seldom used as show ferns as 
they are not conspicuous enough, though delicately pretty. 
Two to three inches is the usual height of frond, and only 
one of the species exceeds six inches. 
Cyathea. — This is the best known tree fern throughout 
South Africa, having stems up to one foot in diameter and 
often up to ten feet in height, surmounted by a crown of 
graceful arching fronds varying from three to eight feet in 
length, in accordance with the size and vigour of the specimen. 
It usually grows in mountain kloofs, fully exposed to the sun 7 
and standing erect, unprotected from wind and weather, when 
mature, though usually starting life in an antbear hole or a 
stream or other somewhat sheltered situation. It occurs in 
abundance in the midlands of Kaffraria and Natal, and also 
in many parts of the Eastern Transvaal, but is curious in its 
distribution, since it extends from about 7000 feet altitude 
down to the coast, wherever conditions suit it, but missing 
very considerable areas altogether and never present in large 
dense bush. It is usually present in the misty upland kloofs 
and mountain slopes, but absent from flat, dry and exposed 
high veld ; it is usually absent from the thornveld, but present 
occasionally along rapid streams even there,. and it is abundant 
near Pinetown, as well as in Eastern Pondoland, in the coast 
belt. Frost kills the fronds, if severe, but seldom hurts the 
crown ; grass fires do it little damage during winter when it 
is dormant ; but a bright hot day occasionally scorches young 
fronds, especially in cultivation. When taken into cultivation 
it is well to lift a dormant stem during winter, taking the 
mass of roots also, and cutting off all fronds, leaving the 
crown to develop young fronds as spring advances. The soil 
is of little importance, but as roots are produced all up the 
stem, and hug the stem closely making a somewhat rooted 
mass all down its side, it is well to water the stem daily as 
well as the root, taking care, however, to put no water into 
the crown, as such must stand there till evaporated off, and 
sometimes rots the young fronds. Even if a stem is cut off 
at the ground surface and planted, it usually has enough 
s. f. s. A. 
